Improved device for supporting wagon-beds



N. BERKELEY.

Wagon Standard.

No. 93,953. E Patented Aug. 24, 18-69.

, (limited fits m;

Letters PatentNo. 93,953, dated August 24, 1869. r

INIPROVED DEVICE POB 'SUPPOB'I'ING- WAGON-BEDS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part oi the same.

To all whom-it may concern Be it known that I, Nonnonnn BERKELEY, of Aldie, in the county of Loudoun, and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Devicefor Supporting and Securing Wagon-Beds; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and'exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which is made a part of this specfication.

The object of 'my invention is toadapt a wagon-bed or body to be supported on its bolster, either solidly, or through the medium of springs, as required, audto adapt the requisite change or adjustment to be readily. and expeditiously made. P

It consists in the employment or use of suitable springs, applied around the standards of the frame, and suitable brackets, applied to the bed, and adapted to be held at different points in the vertical height thereof, so as to rest on said springs, or be supported thereoii', said provisions also serving to secure the bed on the frame.

Figure 1, in the drawing, is a side elevation of a wagon having my invention applied, the bed being shown supported on the springs.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line x x, fig. 1', representing, in black, the bed resting solidly on the bolsters, and, in red, its position as represented in ii 1.

a a re resent the usual bolsters, and b b, the usual standar mounted thereon, for the'securernent of the bed.

0 represents the he'd of the wagon.

d d represent the springs applied to the standards b r e e, the brackets attached to the bed 0 and f f f f, fig. 2, the pairs of sockets provided in the sides of the bed 0, for the reception of the brackets e in their two positions g g represent'the stems of the brackets 6, adapted for engagement with the sockets ff.

7!. 71. represent metallic plates, applied internally and externally of the sides of the bed 0, to strengthen the sockets ff, in the form shown.

With the bed supported on the springs, as shown in fig. 1, and in red in fig. 2, an easy-riding conveyance is secured; and with itsupported directly on the bolstars, as represented in black in fig. 2, the wagon is adapted, with'equal facility, for carrying heavy loads, in connection-with which springs of suincient sensitiveness to adapt the wagon for easy riding would be useless, and would only be destroyed.

To convert the wagon, the bed is removed, the bracketswithdrawn, and inserted in the other sockets, and the bed then replaced. r

With said brackets held in the lower sockets, the bed is supported on the springs ;-with them in the up-' per sockets, it rests solidly on the bolsters, the brackets being held above the springs, as indicated in fig. 2. The bolsters a. and the running-gear of the wagon may be of any desired form.

Thestandards b are, preferably, made cylindrical, to adapt them for the reception of cylindrical springs, and are arranged at such greater distance apart than the width of the bed as to accommodate the springs in their most distended condition.

The be'dawith the exception of the provision for the reception of the brackets, may be of any desired construction, and, with said brackets of the construction shown, may have the usual cleats, for its longitudinal secureineut, omitted.

The springs d maybe cylindrical in form, and of coiled wire, as shown, or of any other suitable form and material.

The brackets c, preferably, consist of rings, adapted to engage over the standards I), as shown, as providing, with the least weight. a good bearing for the springs, and serving, in addition, to support or secure,

the ,bed longitudinally and laterally; but their form may obviously be varied. Their stems g, also, preferably, consist of straight screws, having shoulders, .to limit their insertion, as afl'ording a ready and expeditious mode'ofattachment, and, with said brackets, engaging with the standards, as proposed, efi'ectually preventing aczidental displacement; but maybe of other form, if preferred, and the sockets ff, for their reception, correspondingly varied.

Y The plates 7:. h are, preferably, employed, for the supporl'nof the sockets ff, in the form shown, butare not essential.

The standards b, to which the springs are applied,

preferably, constitute or take the place of the usual standards, but may obviously be employed in connection therewith, if preferred.

Having thus described my invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In combination with the sills a, standards I), and I bed 0, of a wagon, and springs (I, applied around said standards b, the brackets e,- attaehed to the bed 0, and

adapted to be held in sockets f f, at difi'erent pointsin the height of the bed, so as to rest on or be supported off of said springs, substantially as represented and described, for the purpose set forth. a

2. In the described combination, the adjustable brackets c e, adapted to longitudinally and laterally support or secure the bed, substantially as described.

To the above specification of my device'for supporting and-securing wagon-beds, I have signed my hand, this 15th day of June, A. D. 1869. Witnesses: NORBORNE BERKELEY.

JOHN Gnrnnnnn, W. B..DEMING. 

